Utah’s first robot-guided hip replacement surgery

Hip 2011 Reamer | Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Regional Medical Center
Hip 2011 Full RIO | Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Regional Medical Center

SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in Utah to perform the MAKOplasty® hip procedure, the latest innovation in total hip replacement surgery using a highly-advanced, surgeon-controlled robotic arm system. As a treatment option for patients with either non-inflammatory or inflammatory degenerative joint disease, surgeons are now able to attain a new level of surgical precision with accurate alignment and positioning of implants. It provides quantitative knowledge for what were difficult judgment decisions inherent in manually performed operations. It also provides the surgeon with accurate objective data to ensure the implants, leg length, and offset are correct.

Karen Payne will be the hospital’s Center For Precision Joint Replacement’s first patient to receive the hip procedure. As a Utah native, mother, and climbing enthusiast, 52-year-old Payne has found difficulty in her immobility and constant discomfort, as it affects her daily activities and pastimes. Since her first hip surgery at age 8, surgical procedures have been a consistent part of Payne’s life. Although she has seen improvements with each surgery, recently Payne has experienced a relapse, which brought the idea of the MAKOplasty hip procedure into consideration.

“I’ve been in and out of surgeries my whole life and experienced a lot of discomfort, imbalance, and loss of mobility,” said Payne. “I made the decision to have the MAKOplasty procedure, because I am all for a less painful and more accurate operation. After the procedure, I hope to not only gain relief and peace of mind, but also time spent with my family.”

Hip 2011 Cup Impaction | Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Regional Medical Center

MAKOplasty is powered by the RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic system, which is designed to treat osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. During the procedure, the system creates a 3-D image of the patient’s bone surface and matches that image to a preprogrammed surgical plan. The surgeon is able to position the implants much more accurately than other conventional hip surgeries.

“A fundamental part of any orthopedic surgery is precision,” said Dr. Aaron Hofmann, director of the Center For Precision Joint Replacement at Salt Lake Regional. “With this technology, surgeons are able to operate with much greater accuracy, which improves the surgical outcomes and the longevity of the implant components used for hip replacement.”

Salt Lake Regional Medical Center’s Center For Precision Joint Replacement successfully performed the first MAKOplasty procedure to treat osteoarthritis in a knee in January of 2011.

For more information about MAKOplasty or the Center For Precision Joint Replacement at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, call 1-866-431-WELL (9355).

Below, an animated video of the procedure:

About Salt Lake Regional Medical Center


Salt Lake Regional Medical Center has been caring for the people of the Salt Lake Valley for 135 years. Built in 1875, it was one of the first hospitals in the Salt Lake Valley. Salt Lake Regional offers comprehensive healthcare services, including emergency care, heart care, advanced surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, maternity care, women’s services and help for a broad range of medical conditions. Currently, the 200-bed hospital encompasses 316,000 sq. ft. of medical facilities, including three medical office buildings on campus.  For more information, visit saltlakeregional.com or call 1-866-431-WELL (9355).

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1 Comment

  • drjustinlamont May 7, 2012 at 2:25 am

    The growth of technology is doing wonders. It is quite evident from the information provided in the blog. Even the complicated surgeries like hip replacements can be carried out by with the help of robots, the advancement of technology has to be applauded.

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